The Keyano College Huskies men’s volleyball team received a new Plante this summer.

Konrad Plante was named the new volleyball head coach, taking over from reigning CCAA Coach of the Year Trent Mason. Plante was an assistant coach on the Brandon Bobcats, who finished third at Canadian Interuniversity Sport men’s volleyball championships last season.

Plante will remain in Brandon, Man., for a short time while he tries to get some recruits from Winnipeg up to the Huskies.

“One of the things with Brandon University is that I saw that patience comes with progression for players,” Plante said from his Winnipeg recruiting trip.

“We were such a young program with BU and I know Russ (Paddock, Bobcats head coach) was preaching that not only to the assistant coaches, but to the players that it’s going to come with time and it’s not going to happen right now.

“Having been part of that, coming into a program as a new head coach, and having some players leaving and some players coming into the program, we’ll be establishing that with them as well, that it’s a long-term picture and not something that’s going to happen this year.”

The Huskies program is in a transition period with several players expected to be leaving after having hosted the CCAA men’s volleyball championship, finishing fifth.

While Mason continued his recruiting with a camp earlier this summer, Plante is spending time in his home province to get more players to come up.

The future for CCAA Player of the Year left side Alwyn Piche is still unknown, but the door is open for him to come back for a fourth year.

“We’re still hoping Alwyn (Piche) comes back with us,” Plante said. “He’s such an integral part to not only the team, but I think to the program. I can’t really say right now, but the four or five prospects I have coming can help fill in a role as college players.”

Huskies athletic co-ordinator Mark Oxer said the Huskies were looking for candidates with experience that were going to fit into the team concept that they’re promoting, as well as life in what is essentially a rural community.

“Him coming from Brandon, he kind of understands that rural mentality,” Oxer said.

“With our volleyball program having success last year at nationals, he just seemed like he was the best fit for the program.”

Plante’s CIS experience will help him with the players.

“We’d like to have our CCAA athletes move on to that level, and I think that having a coach such as Konrad will help us go with that,” Oxer said.

“Having that taste for the next level is going to help him be able to push our athletes that little bit harder and that little bit further. Hopefully that will translate into more success on the court for us.”

Plante — who will also take over responsibilities as the Huskies Youth Program co-ordinator at the Syncrude Sport & Wellness Centre — and his wife, Charlotte, have three kids between the ages one and five.

Plante’s first official duties will be to run the Huskies’ volleyball camp Aug. 4 to 7 and Aug. 24 to 28.

COREY ATKINSON

Today staff